A new scheme is underway to create 200 North-East apprenticeships. Deputy Business Editor Steven Hugill yesterday met Business Secretary, Vince Cable, to discuss why apprenticeships are vital to the region.

A £3.4M training programme has been launched to create 200 North-East chemical industry apprenticeships and plug the region's skills shortage.

The scheme, unveiled yesterday by Business Secretary, Vince Cable, at Sembcorp, in Wilton, near Redcar, will offer apprenticeships and graduate training over the next three years for people between 16 and 24-years-old.

Funded by £3.4m from the Government's Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot, the Sembcorp Skills Development Programme will equip young people with the skills needed to compete for an apprenticeship, and give firms greater scope to take on workers.

The programme will be managed by the Darlington-based National Skills Academy for the Process Industries (NSAPI), and includes a six-month pre-apprenticeship programme for 100 people out of work, education and training.

It also features three-year apprenticeships for 100 youngsters, and three-week practical programmes for 100 graduates, which would work as an introduction to the industry and be followed by 20 six-week work placements.

Workers are expected start in their new positions later this year.

Dr Cable said: “Apprenticeships are important for the economy and addressing the shortage of skills.

“One of the most disappointing things that you hear is the lack of skilled people, and these apprenticeship programmes are valuable for young people and beneficial for the North-East.

“Quality apprenticeships are proven ways of gaining new qualifications while opening the doors to enviable, well-paid careers and offering businesses workers and increased competitiveness.

“Sembcorp's commitment to creating 200 apprenticeship places is a welcome boost for young people and the area.”

During his visit, Dr Cable spoke with Sembcorp workers and unemployed people currently out of education, who hope to benefit from the scheme.

Richard Lees, a 23-year-old former fibreoptic worker from Eston, near Middlesbrough, said he welcomed the programme, after struggling to find employment since October.

He said: “We all need something like this because we all want to get back into work.

“The programme will get us ready for work and it is a good career to get into with a strong future.”

Chelsea Passmore, 20, a final-year Sembcorp apprentice process technician, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, also backed the plans.

She said: “Apprenticeships are the best way to get qualifications, they let you see what you need to do to get in the area and really build your expertise.”

Philip Jones, NSAPI chief executive said the training programme would be a huge boost to young North-East workers.

He said: “We intend to run a scheme which will meet the requirement of manufacturers producing a stream of highly-trained and competent people and helping to get hundreds of young people into work.”

Led by Sembcorp Utilities UK, the programme is supported by employers including Wilton-based Sabic, Huntsman Polyurethanes, CPI and Lotte Chemical, Chemoxy International, in Middlesbrough, Lucite International and Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, in Billingham, Fine Organics and Epax Pharma at Seal Sands, near Billingham, and Exwold Technology and Huntsman Tioxide at Greatham, near Hartlepool, Aesica Pharmaceuticals, in Cramlington and High Force Research, in Durham.